Dial needle selection mechanism



Jan. 11, 1966 T. J. THORE DIAL NEEDLE SELECTION MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F led Nov. 18, 1963 INVENTOR! THOMAS J. THORE ATTYS.

Jan. 11, 1966 T. J. THORE 3,228,211

DIAL NEEDLE SELECTION MECHANISM Filed Nov. 18, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 INVENTORZ THOMAS J. THORE W ATTYS.

Jan. 11, 1966 T J. THORE DIAL NEEDLE SELECTION MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed'Nov. 18. 1963 PIC-5.9.

. A A A A A A A A c A A. A. 4 7H &/\.\1 L B A A A A l i HH P 5 xE Q m 2U Bk Hwy 5M Ud U A w w 9AA AAA MA w INVENTORI THOMAS J. THORE BY W ATTYS.

Jan. 11, 1966 T. .1. THORE DIAL NEEDLE SELECTION MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 18, 1963 FIGS.

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United States Patent C) New Jersey Filed Nov. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 324,465

8 Claims. (Cl. 66-15) The present invention relates to circular knitting machines and more particularly to rib knitting machines designed to produce half hose, such as the socks worn by children, having a plain knit body portion and a rib knit cuff.

In machines of the stated type, there is a full complement of cylinder needles, and a number of dial needles equal to one half the number of cylinder needles. In the conventional half hose, the fabric is made up on the cylinder needles and a turned welt is knit on the cylinder needles for several courses of plain knitting. The welt may or may not embody an elastic yarn therein. Thereafter, the machine commences rib knitting the cuff. When knitting the cuff, the alternate cylinder needles are rendered inoperative and the cuff is knitted on the dial needles and the remaining intermediate cylinder needles. At the end of the cuff, the loops from the dial needles are transferred to the previously inactive alternate cylinder needles and the knitting continues on the full complement of cylinder needles to form the plain body portion of the hose.

Prior to the present invention, if it were desired to provide a fancy free edge on the cuff, it was necessary to knit the cuff separately on a special rib machine and thereafter transfer the cuff to another machine for the completion of the stocking.

The present invention provides selective control mechanism for the dial needles whereby a fancy edge, a socalled picot edge may be knit at the free end of the cuff of the stocking, on the same machine which knits the remainder of the stocking.

The present invention also provides a method for selectively controlling the dial needles to create a picot edge in the cuff of the stocking.

More specifically, the present invention provides dial needle jacks having in addition to the conventional upstanding butts, a pattern contoured surface along the length thereof, for cooperation with laterally moving jack cams controlled so as to produce the desired stitch pattern for the formation of a picot edge.

The present invention provides novel control of the dial needles through their jacks so as to produce a fancy knit pattern in a simple and effective manner.

All of the objects of the present invention are herein after more fully set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a rib knitting machine embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 (sheet 2) is an enlarged sectional view taken on the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 (sheet 3) is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5 and 6 (sheet 2) are detached elevational views of dial needles and jacks which may be used in carrying out the present invention;

FIG. 7 (sheet 4) is a sectional representation of a jack set-up for the dial needles in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a composite diagrammatic representation of the dial needle positions at the yarn feeding points in four phases of the formation of thefancy edge of the cuff;

FIG. 9 (sheet 3) is a stitch diagram schematically illustrating the stitch formations of the fancy edge; and

FIG. 10 (sheet 1) is a view of a completed half hose embodying the stitch formation shown in FIG. 9, made in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 10, the half hose shown therein comprises a plain knit body portion 12 having a rib-knit cuff 13, which in FIG. 10, is shown as turned over on itself, as it is normally worn. The free edge 14 of the cuff is therefore overlying the plain knit body portion 12.

As shown schematically in FIG. 9, the free edge 14 of the cuff comprises rib wales .R alternating with cylinder wales C. For the purpose of illustration, FIG. 9 does not illustrate the turned welt of the hose, but shows the first course 21 consisting of rib and cylinder wales in alternation, as after the completion of the welt. As

' shown in this figure, the cylinder wales C are all of an identical conventional construction and four out of the five rib wales are knit identically, but every fifth rib Wale R-5, however, embodies a stitch formation which differs from the remaining rib wales R-1. As shown in FIG. 9, in the initial course 21 of the picot formation, the wales R-1 embody a two-course held stitch T-1 formed by positioning the needle at tuck position whereas the Wale R5 embodies :a seven-course tuck stitch T-5. In the second and third courses 22 and 23, the Wales R-l embody float stitches F whereas the wales R-S continue to embody multiple-course tuck stitches T-5. For the next five courses 24 to 28 inclusive, the rib wales R-l embody rib-knit stitches Whereas the wales R5 continue to embody tuck stitches. In the next course 29 after the five courses of tucking in the wales R-5, all of the rib needles commence knitting rib-stitches and the picot edge is complete. Because of the tension in the yarn, the sequence of tuck stitches in the rib R-S causes a gathering of the fabric, thereby producing the fancy edge shown in FIG. 10.

In order to produce the stitch formation shown diagrammatically in FIG. 9, the dial needles and jacks of the conventional rib knitting machine are modified and special cams are provided. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional rib machine comprises a frame 31 rotatably mounting therein a cylinder 32 containing a circle of cylinder needles 33. A sinker ring 34 surrounds the upper end of the needle cylinder 32 and mounts therein the conventional sinkers 35 (see FIG. 3) which are carried by the cylinder 32 for rotation with the circle of needles 33. Overlying the cylinder 32, is a rotary dial structure 36 having dial needles 37 mounted for arcuate movement therein by means of jacks 38 pivoted in the dial structure at 39 and biased inwardly at their lower end by a circular spring 40. The dial needle jacks 38 are provided with the conventional upstanding butts 42 which cooperate with a track cam 43 in the stationary upper dial cap 44. Means is provided to activate and inactivate cams in the track 43 to impart conventional knitting movements to the needles. The dial structure 36 is driven in synchronism with the cylinder 32 by a suitable dial drive shaft 45 which is mounted for rotation within the stationary dial cap 44. Yarn feeders (not shown) at a feed station indicated by the arrow A introduce yarn to the cylinder and dial needles which are actuated in a conventional manner to produce a tubular fabric S. It is standard practice to knit a series of half hose tubular blanks in continuous sequence, which blanks are later separated and the toes thereof closed by looping, or sewing, as desired.

In accordance with the present invention, the dial needles are actuated by jacks such as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 haying a contoured surface along their length. The jack 38-1 shown in FIG. 5 is of substantially conventional form, being devoid of any projections between its pivot point 39 and the upper butt 42. The jack 38-5, on the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, is modified to provide a groove or notch 51 at one level intermediate the butt 42 and the pivot point 39-, and a laterally extending butt or projection 52 at a second level. In the present instance, a notch is provided at a third level at 53, for a purpose not relevant to the present embodiment of the invention. The jacks 38-1 and 38-5 are mounted in the dial, for example as shown in FIG. 7 with the jacks 38-1 comprising four times the number of jacks 38-5. It will be apparent that the jacks 38-1 control the needles making the rib wales R-1 whereas the jacks 38-5 control the needles making the rib wales R-S. The needles carried by the jacks 38-1 are designated 37-1 and the needles carried by the jacks 38-5 are designated 37-5.

In the present instance, a pair of jack cams 61 and 62 respectively are positioned at the level of the notch 51 and the butt 52. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the jack cams 61 and 62 are pivoted at one end 63 on an arm 64 mounted on the frame 31 of the machine, and are connected at the other end to linkages 65 and 66 extending to followers 67 and 68 respectively engaging the conventional pattern drum 69 of the knitting machine. When the cams are displaced into engagement with the contoured surfaces of the jacks, the leading portion of the cam operates to displace the upper part of the jack inwardly in advance of the feed station A, thereby projecting the associated needle outwardly against the bias of the spring 40. The trailing portion of each cam permits the upper part of the jack to be displaced outwardly by the bias of the spring 40 alone, or in combination with a stitch-drawing portion of the cam track 43 thereby retracting the associated needle to draw a stitch after passing the feed station A.

As illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 4, the jack cams 61 and 62 control the jacks in the desired sequence to produce the stitch formation shown in FIG. 9. Each quadrant of FIG. 8 represents a separate phase of the formation of the picot edge. Although only one quadrant is illustrated, it is understood that the individual needles in the entire complement of dial needles assume the positions shown in the quadrant as they enter the feed station, and are retracted as they pass beyond the feed station, to thereby form the desired stitch. To this end, after the initial makeup courses of the stocking are completed, when the alternate cylinder needles are clear of yarn and are in the lowered inactive position, the

cams in the track 43 in the dial cap are adjusted to position all of the dial needles at the tuck position, i.e., that position where the needles take yarn but do not cast the previous stitch. This arrangement is shown at 91 in FIG. 8. After one or two courses are knit, with all of the dial needles in the tuck position and the remaining intermediate cylinder needles operating to knit, the cam 62 is advanced to barely engage the butts 52 of the jacks 38-5, and the cams in the track 43 of the dial cap are then retracted out of the path of the butts 42 so that the control of the needles rests entirely with the earns 61 and 62 under the bias of the circular spring 40 and the fixed portions of the cam track 43. The spring presses in the needles 37-1 while leaving the needles 37-5 at the tuck position, by reason of their engagement with the cam 62. The needles 37-1 are therefore. placed in the welt position in which they do not take yarn at the feed station and the yarn passes in front of the hooks so as to form a float stitch. This arrangement is shown at 92 in FIG. 8. This continues for one or two courses, in the present instance, two, thereby forming the courses 22 and 23 described above in connection with FIG. 9.

After the completion of these courses, the cam 61 is advanced, engaging in the notches 51 of the jacks 38-5, but pressing the shank of the jacks 38-1 to displace the needles 37-1 to the clearing position wherein the needles take yarn and cast the previous loop. Since the notch 51 is in registry with the cam 61, the needles 37-5 remain in the tuck position and continue to take yarn without casting the previous loop. This arrangement is shown at 93 in FIG. 8. After five courses of this stitch formation, the conventional knit and tuck cams 43 in the dial cap are displaced into position in the cam track 43 for engagement with the top butts 42 so as to commence conventional rib knitting as shown at 94 in FIG. 8, thereupon casting the accumulation of tuck stitches retained on the needles 37-5 so as to form the fancy edge shown in FIG. 10.

Following the formation of the fancy edge, the remaining intermediate cylinder needles 33 cooperate with the dial needles 37 to complete the cuff 13 with rib knitting. Following completion of the cuff, the alternate cylinder needles 33 which were previously in the lowered inactive position, are raised to engage in the loops held on the dial needles 37 and transfer the loops to the aforesaid alternate cylinder needles as the dial needles are withdrawn to the inactive position. Upon completion of the transfer, the cylinder needles continue to knit the plain knit body portion 12, as in the conventional knitting machine.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been herein illustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular stitch formations and cam arrangements shown and described. For example, other fancy patterns may be embodied in the cuff of the stocking by modifying the contour of the jacks and the arrangement or actuation of the laterally movable cams. Still other fancy patterns may be knit by selectively controlling the cylinder needles to knit different stitches, provided care is exercised in the designing of the fancy pattern. These and other changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of knitting a half hose having a fancy pattern in the cuff on a circular knitting machine having a full complement of cylinder needles and half as many dial needles comprising the steps of selecting each dial needle to form one of rib tuck stitches, rib float stitches, and conventional rib stitches in one course of the fabric, with alternate cylinder needles knitting with the intermediate cylinder needles inactive, and selecting dial needles to form a different one of said stitches in a subsequent course with alternate cylinder needles knitting, and thereafter continuing the knitting with all of the rib needles knitting rib stitches and the alternate cylinder needles knitting plain stitches to complete the formation of a rib cuff, and thereafter transferring the rib stitches to the previously inactive cylinder needles and withdrawing the dial needles to afford continuing knitting on the full complement of cylinder needles to form a plain knit body portion.

2. The method of knitting a stocking having a fancy edge on a circular knitting machine having a full complement of cylinder needles and half as many dial needles comprising the steps of forming an initial course after the makeup of the stocking with a full complement of rib tuck stitches alternating with a like number of cylinder plain stitches, rendering the remaining cylinder needles inactive, forming an adjacent course with only selected rib needles tuck stitching and the remaining rib needles float stitchin' the alternating cylinder stitches being plain, and forming a plurality of subsequent courses with the selected rib needles continuing to tuck stitch and the remaining rib needles knitting rib stitches, with the alternating cylinder stitches being plain and thereafter continuing the knitting with all of the rib needles knitting rib stitches and the alternating stitches being plain to complete the formation of a rib cuff, and thereafter transferring the rib stitches to previouslyinactive cylinder needles and. continuing to knit on; the

full complement of cylinder needles to form a plain knit body portion.

3. In a circular knitting machine having a cylinder, a dial, and knitting instrumentalities including a full complement of cylinder needles in said cylinder and dial needles in said dial equal in number to one half of the number of cylinder needles, a dial cam track having displaceable dial cams therein, and a dial needle jack for each dial needle pivotally mounted in the dial structure of said machine having a butt engageable with said dial cam track, the improvement comprising a contoured surface al-ong the length of said dial jack forming at least two camming levels thereon, a jack cam displacea'ble laterally into engagement with said contoured surface at each of said camming levels, the extent of projection of said contoured surface at each level determining the displacement of the dial needle by said cams, and means controlled by said machine for displacing said jack cams laterally between operative and inoperative positions relative to said contoured surfaces of the dial needle jacks.

4. A knitting machine according to claim 3 including a pattern drum for controlling the operation of the knitting instrumentalities of said machine, said means for displacing the cams comprising cam elements on said drum and cam followers mounted to engage said cam elements and linkage means interconnecting said followers with said laterally displ-aceable cams.

5. A knitting machine according to claim 3 wherein the contoured surfaces of selected jacks comprise notches at one of said levels and projections at another of said levels, other jacks having a straight contoured surface at said levels.

6. A knitting machine according to claim 3 including means to displace the dial cams in said dial cam track to inactive position, said means for laterally displacing said jack cams operating to effect engagement thereof with said surface only upon displacement of said dial cams to inactive position.

7. A knitting machine according to claim 3 wherein said jack cams comprise a leading portion adapted to displace said jacks so as to project the needles to a selected position in advance of the yarn feed position, and a trailing portion adapted to afford displacement of said jacks so as to retract the needles to the stitch-drawing position after passing said yarn-feed position.

8. In a circular knitting machine having a cylinder, a dial, and knitting instrumentalities including, a yarn feed station, a full complement of cylinder needles in said cylinder and dial needles in said dial equal in number to one half of the number of cylinder needles, a dial cam track having displaceable dial cams therein, and a dial needle jack for each dial needle pivotally mounted in dial structure of said machine having a butt engageable with said dial cam track operable upon activation of said dial cams to effect knitting of the associated dial needle, the improvement comprising a contoured surface along the length of said dial jack forming at least two camming levels thereon, jack cams displaceable into engagement with said contoured surface at said camming levels, and disposed circumferentially of said dial jacks in registry with said feed station, the portions of said jack cams in advance of said station when operative displacing said jack and projecting said dial needle outwardly, and the portions of said jack cams trailing said station when operative affording retraction of said needle, the dial jacks having different extents of projection of said contoured surface at said levels, thereby effecting different extents of projection of the dial needles by said cams, and means controlled by said machine for displacing said jack cams between operative and inoperative positions relative to said contoured surfaces of the dial needle jacks.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,153,019 4/1939 Holmes 66-25 X 2,159,266 5/1939 Gorman 6625 2,696,720 12/1954 Miller 66-20 3,003,343 10/1961 Alfano 66-172 DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner. RUSSELL C. MADER, Examiner. 

1. THE METHOD OF KNITTING A HALF HOSE HAVING A FANCY PATTERN IN THE CUFF ON A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE HAVING A FULL COMPLEMENT OF CYLINDER NEEDLES AND HALF AS MANY DIAL NEEDLES COMPRISING THE STEPS OF SELECTING EACH DIAL NEEDLE TO FORM ONE OF RIB TUCK STITCHES, RIB FLOAT STITCHES, AND CONVENTIONAL RIB STITCHES IN ONE COURSE OF THE FABRIC, WITH ALTERNATE CYLINDER NEEDLES KNITTING WITH THE INTERMEDIATE CYLINDER NEEDLES INACTIVE AND SELECTING DIAL NEEDLES TO FORM A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID STITCHES IN A SUBSEQUENT COURCE WITH ALTERNATE CYLINDER NEEDLES KNITTING, AND THEREAFTER CONTINUING THE KNITTING WITH ALL OF THE RIB NEEDLES KNITTING RIB STITCHES AND THE ALTERNATE CLYINDER NEEDLES KNITTING PLAIN STITCHES TO COMPLETE THE FORMATION OF A RIB CUFF, AND THEREAFTER TRANFERRING THE RIB STITCHES TO THE PREVIOUSLY INACTIVE CYLINDER NEEDLES AND WITHDRAWING THE DIAL NEEDLES TO AFFORD CONTINUING KNITTING ON THE FULL COMPLEMENT OF CYLINDER NEEDLES TO FORM A PLAIN KNIT BODY PORTION. 